Balanced K-State beats Wake Forest 95-88 in First Four

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — After finally making it into the NCAA Tournament with its offensive balance, Kansas State showcased its array of scorers in the First Four.

Kamau Stokes scored 19 of his 22 points in the second half of a wide-open game on Tuesday night, and the Wildcats’ versatility was the difference as they pulled away to a 95-88 victory over Wake Forest.

Eleventh-seeded K-State (21-13) got its first NCAA Tournament win in five years and a trip to play No. 6 Cincinnati on Friday in Sacramento as part of the South Regional. The Bearcats are known for their tight defense.

“It’s a good matchup for us,” said Wesley Iwundu , who had 24 points. “You know they’re a tough team, but we’re down for any challenge. We’re the underdogs now but we like being the underdogs.”

In a matchup of two versatile offenses, the Wildcats had the most options and hot shooters. Four players finished in double figures — their season norm — as the Wildcats shot a season-high 66 percent from the field against a team they had never faced.

“Now you’re playing somebody new and maybe you can get some of the little looks that you haven’t gotten in probably like the last six weeks,” coach Bruce Weber said.

Stokes missed three of his four shots in the first half, but found his touch right away after the break, hitting a pair of quick 3s.

“I think he just needed to shake off his jitters in the first NCAA Tournament game,” Iwundu said. “But in the second half, he got back to doing what he does best, hitting some big shots.”

Wake Forest (19-14 ) couldn’t keep up during its first NCAA Tournament game in seven years. The Demon Deacons scored 90 points nine times during the season, but couldn’t match the Wildcats.

“We came close and then we let them build another lead,” said John Collins, who had 26 points and nine rebounds. “So I think it was kind of a trend.”

It was a breakthrough season for the Demon Deacons in coach Danny Manning’s third season. He led Kansas to the 1988 national championship — Danny and The Miracles, as they’re known — by beating K-State along the way. And now he had the Demon Deacons back in the tournament for the first time in seven years.

“For us, it’s been a long, eventful season,” Manning said.

BIG PICTURE

Kansas State: The Wildcats repeatedly made clutch shots to hold onto the lead down the stretch. After falling behind by 10 points, Wake Forest got the lead within three points 11 times, but K-State always matched it. The Demon Deacons overcame double-digit deficits to win their last three regular-season games, but couldn’t do it in the tournament.

Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons shot only 36 percent from the field in the first half and had more turnovers (nine) than field goals (eight), forcing them to play from behind.

WHERE’S THE DEFENSE?

Both teams went through long stretches without missing a shot in the second half. Kansas State made its first five shots and six of seven, while Wake Forest made seven in a row over one stretch. Many of the shots were wide-open.

GETTING TO THE LINE

The teams combined for 51 fouls and 68 free throws, with things working out almost evenly. Kansas State went 27 of 36 from the line, while Wake Forest was 29 of 32. K-State’s 27 points off free throws were a season high.

UP NEXT

Kansas State: The Wildcats will try to win two NCAA Tournament games for the first time since 2010, when they lost to Butler in a regional final.

Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons return the bulk of one of the youngest teams in the tournament, including three sophomore starters and one junior.

Wake Forest’s John Collins (20) dunks on Kansas State’s D.J. Johnson (4) in the second half of a First Four game of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in Dayton, Ohio. Kansas won 95-88. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Kansas State’s Wesley Iwundu (25) shoots against Wake Forest’s John Collins (20) in the second half of a First Four game of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in Dayton, Ohio. Kansas won 95-88. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Kansas State’s Wesley Iwundu, left, pulls a rebound away from Wake Forest’s John Collins (20) in the first half of a First Four game of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Wake Forest’s John Collins (20) shoots against Kansas State’s Wesley Iwundu, left, and D.J. Johnson, right, in the first half of a First Four game of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Kansas State’s Barry Brown (5) shoots past Wake Forest’s Bryant Crawford (13) in the first half of a First Four game of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Kansas State head coach Bruce Weber directs his players from the bench in the first half of a First Four game of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Wake Forest, Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Wake Forest head coach Danny Manning walks off the court during halftime of a First Four game of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Kansas State, Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Kansas State’s Dean Wade (32) and Wake Forest’s John Collins (20) vie for the tipoff in the first half of a First Four game of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Kansas State’s Isaiah Maurice, left, and Wake Forest’s John Collins, right, battle for a rebound in the first half of a First Four game of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)